A plan revised again

Sometime back in July of 2006, I outlined a new plan for devotional reading. As I feel into that routine, I noticed that it wasn't particularly working for me. As time went by last year, I modified it, although I never modified the written plan on the blog.

As we begin 2007, this post is for me. I always feel strange doing this -- this is the third time in this blog -- but I do it for me. Writing it down keeps me focused and set on my goal.

What I've noticed in the past six months is that this small amount of morning devotional time has become important. I don't like to miss it. In fact, when I first started this plan, I skipped the weekend, and doubled up on Fridays. I don't do that anymore -- this has become a 7-day a week enterprise.

This post doesn't describe a change that I have recently made in my morning devotional plan, but instead describes what it has become as it evolved over the past few months.

1. As a basis for the devotional time, use Disciplines 2007, a publication of the Upper Room. Each week is based on that week's lectionary readings.
2. Read the lectionary reading for each day as specified in the devotion, and then read the devotion for the day.
3. If I have thoughts about these readings, record them in the journal that I keep with the book.
4. Spend some time in morning prayer.

I'm using NIV and The Message for these readings. I keep thinking I'll switch to NSRV and The Message, but I like the parallel Bible I'm using -- I'm not sure I would look the passage up in two different Bibles. Maybe I'll switch for a week to see.